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Remember the Time?
(A Brief Plea to AMPAS Members)
by Nathaniel R January 3rd



Time Regained: The Highlights of January through August

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. When you hear those words it's usually a marketing pitch. Vote for this film. Vote for that performance. You're no doubt swimming in ads in every trade paper you read and even more surprisingly in television commercials hyping current widening releases. This time FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION is not a marketing pitch but a personal nonjudgemental request -An overview of stuff the critics have already forgotten about, films that are possibly already available on video, and the performances that have the simple disadvantage of not being out. right. now.

This list does not reflect my own personal ballot. (You can see that here soon) but is just a reminder of performances and films that were of note in early 2004. It's hard for me not to mention favorites from September, October, November, and December but that's the nature of this particular plea.

The year is 12 months long. Please show mercy on we civilians who count on Oscar season to bring us American films with artistic ambitions that are usually for adults. We'd really like these types of movies to come out in other months as well so FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION... here are some things from January through August to reconsider... A release date in December may be prime realty but some awfully charismatic homes can be found in more remote neighborhoods if you catch my drift.

JANUARY
OK so January is pretty vacant prestige wise... moving on.
FEBRUARY
It's still mostly 2004 Oscar hangovers... but The Passion of the Christ premiered here. I think it's one of the worst of the year...but a lot of people think of it quite differently. If this was a major experience (positive) for you --maybe it ought to be on your ballot. If you go for realism in make-up and you have that category on the ballot...well, those flesh wounds were pretty realistic, now weren't they? Some people also think Miracle released at this time is a good flick. Do you love that one. It's eligible.
MARCH
Dawn of the Dead (OK, stop laughing) had some pretty well handled editing, sound design, etc... if you stop to think about it. The Ladykillers had a performance by Irma P Hall that many people thought was majorly special and that category (supporting actress) has been weak. Dogville is cruel and rough going emotionally... but it's also visionary and important. You could toss it a screenplay, director or acting bone somewhere surely. And most importantly ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND was released. In 20 years people will worship this movie. Some already do. It's way more original than most of the films that are currently expected to be on your ballot. So do the right thing and have it on there. Rank it at #1! Look real smart by embracing it March release and all. You got some good press by recognizing City of God at least year's nominations and that came out in January!

APRIL
Hellboy had some great makeup work from one of your favorites (Rick Baker) Home on the Range is an animated contender and has original songs that you might want to give a listen to. And, most importantly, Uma Thurman who you dissed last year for the same role...come on. You KNOW history will remember her in Kill Bill Volume 2 without this nomination but show some respect to a great character creation. She worked way harder than some of the other actress contenders and it's tough to argue with how invested she is in this film. And speaking of vicious women, don't forget Tina Fey's screenplay for Mean Girls which is the funniest dark teen comedy in a long time (even if it does owe an awful lot to Heathers)
MAY
Early summer featured Shrek 2 which I'm lukewarm on... but maybe you're warmer? There's some interesting costuming work in Troy and Anne Reid in The Mother if the fall Best Actress contenders are boring you or if you'd like to give a shout out to Hanif Kureishi (a former nominee) screenplay.
JUNE
You forgot my birthday but don't forget the vastly improved Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban or the best superhero movie ever made Spider-Man 2 which has stuff to savor in just about every category... and I mean that for acting too. Don't be a genre hater. Great stuff is great stuff is great stuff.

JULY
Before Sunrise is the highlight of July as films go. They're campaigning strangely in the Adapted Screenplay category even though it's more of an original but it's a gorgeous little movie and Julie Delpy is deserving of some of your love as a Best Actress nominee --I actually prefer her work to that of the more likely nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno in Maria Full of Grace --consider that latter films director or screenplay too, won't you? Joan Allen was riveting in The Bourne Supremacy as was the editing. There are plentiful elegant costumes to look at in De-Lovely. And please please please pretty pretty please put JEFF BRIDGES in THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR on your ballot. At the time this movie came out some people called it his best performance --a "career topper" and considering his career you'll have to agree that that means he's worth voting for. He's awesome in the film. There are a lot of men in the running for those five Best Actor slots and many of them are playing real life people. Try creating a character from scratch, from just your imagination and make it as real and as grand as those real life biopic figures. That's Oscar worthy. That's what Bridges accomplished here. Don't forget his terrific work. Please. Also Fahrenheit 9/11 rocked.
AUGUST
August is all about Collateral in a lot of different categories--EXCEPT supporting actor. You know in your hearts that this is fraudulent categorization on Jamie Foxx's part. Don't fall for it. We all know he's going to win the statue in the lead category anyways. Share the wealth. Be a good sport.

 

And remember, whatever films you may love the year is 12 months long. There is more to the Oscar than just December and January box office.

HAPPY VOTING.

-Nathaniel